Dave Ramsey: Pre-paid debit cards for kids?

Tuesday

Aug 29, 2017 at 11:09 AM

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Dear Dave,I’ve seen lots of companies marketing pre-paid debit cards for kids. They seem to position them as a way parents can set spending limits for their children. Do you think these are a good idea? It seems to me they are just a form of conditioning to get kids to rely on cards.— Keith

Dear Keith,I agree with your assessment. I don’t recommend pre-paid debit cards for children, except in very unusual situations. Let’s say your kid was going on a trip, and you wanted him or her to have something in their pocket for limited access to cash. But if they’re old enough and responsible enough, I’d rather them have a traditional debit card attached to their own account.

What I really want parents to do is teach their children how to work, give, save and spend wisely. It’s all about teaching your children to become good adults, and handling money is part of the equation. How does that apply to something like a pre-paid debit card for a kid? For the child, they’re looking at it like mom and dad are an ATM. They don’t equate it with real money unless they put their cash into the card.

I suggest helping them open a checking account with a debit card attached around age 15 or 16, provided you have taught them — and they have demonstrated — wise money management practices up to that point. Teach them to reconcile and balance the account, and walk with them when they do this so they don’t slip into the idea a debit card is some magical portal to free money. — Dave

Become debt-free before marriage?Dear Dave,I’ll be getting married in a few months, and I just finished reading some of your books. You make a lot of sense, but now I’m wondering if I need to talk to my fiancée about postponing the wedding until I pay off all my debt. How do you feel about this?— Nick

Dear Nick,First, congratulations on your upcoming wedding. I admire your desire to get out of debt and take control of your finances, but you’re talking about marrying the woman you love. You do not have to be debt-free to get married.

If you guys are on the same page when it comes to money, and you’re both willing to work together on paying off any debt after you’re married, there’s no reason to postpone the wedding.

You two shouldn’t be paying each other’s debt before you get married, but once the rings are on your fingers, and you’re pronounced “as one,” then everything shifts from being “mine” and “hers” to “ours.”—Dave

— Dave Ramsey is CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven best-selling books, including The Total Money Makeover. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 13 million listeners each week on 585 radio stations and multiple digital platforms. Follow Dave on the web at daveramsey.com and on Twitter at @DaveRamsey.